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El Nio and La

Nia
Normal & El Nio Model
http://esminfo.prenhall.com/science
/geoanimations/animations/26_NinoNi
na.html
Normal Conditions
Air pressure across equatorial Pacific is
higher in eastern Pacific
Strong southeast trade winds
Pacific warm pool on western side
Thermocline deeper on western side
Upwelling off the coast of Peru
Normal conditions

Fig. 7.18 a
S
El Nio-Southern Oscillation
(ENSO)
Trade winds weaken
Warm countercurrents become unusually
strong and replace normally cold offshore
waters with warm equatorial waters
High pressure in eastern Pacific weakens
Warm pool migrates eastward
Thermocline deeper in eastern Pacific
Downwelling
Lower biological productivity
Corals particularly sensitive to warmer
seawater
El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO):
Warm phase (El Nio)

Fig. 7.18 b
Global consequences of El
Nio
El Nio has global consequences and is
both an atmospheric and oceanic
phenomena
Drought in SE Asia and Australia
Flooding and increased rainfall in S.
America
Strong winter storms on US West Coast
Northward displacement of Jet Stream
Weaker trade winds
Causes more winter rain in Texas, mild
winter in Midwest
ENSO events
Strong conditions influence global weather
Flooding, drought, erosion, fires, tropical storms,
harmful effects on marine life
La Nia
Opposite of El Nio
When surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific
are colder than average
During La Nia winter-lots of colder than normal
air blows over the Pacific Northwest, but warms
the rest of the US
Trade winds are especially strong
Can also increase hurricane activity
Weak and Strong El Nios
ENSO events
El Nio warm phase about every 3 to 8 years
Highly irregular
Phases usually last 12 to 18 months
Currently in El Nio!

Fig. 7.20

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